Plumbing apprentice

Summary

The Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating apprenticeship journey will be split into 4 phases designed to take you through all the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become a fully qualified plumbing and heating engineer. The course will teach you domestic plumbing systems followed by a gas or renewables pathway.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 08:00 - 17:00 with 1-hour for lunch

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

3

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Assisting with boiler installations, bathroom and kitchen plumbing, and gas central heating system installations
Gain hands on experience working on new build housing projects
Learning from experienced professionals in a real-world environment

Where you'll work

OSBORNE HOUSE
ASCOTT
OXFORD
OX44 7UJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

OXFORD ENERGY ACADEMY LIMITED

Your training course

Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and applying safe working practices.
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating and sanitary appliances and pipework).
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of rainwater systems.
Plan tasks within plumbing and domestic heating systems industry.
Identify and document hazards for the plumbing and domestic heating systems work. Apply control measures.
Carry out commission and handover procedures and techniques on plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating, sanitary appliances, and rainwater).
Install, test, and commission, electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on the non-electrical components of plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems including industry safe isolation procedures.
Decommission plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Decommission electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Plan, size and select cold and hot systems to meet customer’s needs in accordance with manufacturers guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
Plan, size and select domestic heating and rainwater systems to meet customers' needs in accordance with manufacturers' guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
Carry out and apply the common installation processes and techniques used in the installation and maintenance of natural gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and natural gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input) in the workplace.
Install, purge, test, commission and handover low pressure natural gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and natural gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
Plan, size and select low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of solar thermal systems.
Test, commission and handover air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
Test, commission and handover solar thermal systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on solar thermal systems.
Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) solar thermal systems.
Plan, size and select air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
Plan, size and select solar thermal systems.
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing pipework.
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances (cold water systems, hot water systems, sanitary appliances and pipework systems and rainwater systems).
Test, commission and handover plumbing pipework (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances in the workplace. (cold water systems and sanitary appliances and pipework systems).
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances.
Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances.
Operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and applying safe working practices.
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating and sanitary appliances and pipework).
Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of rainwater systems.
Plan tasks within plumbing and domestic heating systems industry.
Identify and document hazards for the plumbing and domestic heating systems work. Apply control measures.
Carry out commission and handover procedures and techniques on plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating, sanitary appliances, and rainwater).
Install, test, and commission, electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on the non-electrical components of plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems including industry safe isolation procedures.
Decommission plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Decommission electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
Plan, size and select cold and hot systems to meet customer’s needs in accordance with manufacturers guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
Plan, size and select domestic heating and rainwater systems to meet customers' needs in accordance with manufacturers' guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.

Your training plan

The 4 phases of this qualification will be delivered over a 42-month period, 1-day a week at our Witney based centre
As part of the course, learners will need to complete a portfolio of work with evidence gathered from the workplace
As well as evidence gathered by the learner, the on-site portfolio will require multiple workplace assessments conducted by our workplace assessor

More training information

At the end of the course learners will complete the End Point Assessment.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness
Green CSCS Card
Driving licence
Aged 18+
Access to own transport

Other requirements

The applicant must be prepared to train and complete plumbing, heating, gas and renewables courses. Due to the nature of the role, candidate required to be aged 18+.

About this company

With a wide range of ongoing contracts and a steadily expanding client base, the company is looking to grow its team of skilled plumbers and heating engineers. Thames Valley Plumbers are strong advocates of the apprenticeship program, which forms a vital part of their long-term succession planning and continued business growth.

Company benefits

21-days annual leave plus bank holidays; all PPE provided; company pension upon qualification

After this apprenticeship

Plumber and Domestic Heating Engineer
Plumbing and Domestic Heating Installer

Ask a question

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